On the eve of Independence Day, I was flipping through some photos and found this picture of a little gypsy village just outside of Oradea, Romania. I am quickly reminded of a trip my husband and I took to Romania several years ago. Along with 13 other team members, my husband and I traveled across the world to build a home for unwed mothers.
At that time, Romania's poverty was so bad that women would abandon their babies in the hospital. With no where to go, the hospital staff would feed the babies rice milk and swab them with RAID to keep the insects off of them. Most were left to die, not necessarily from starvation, but from the lack of attention and love. A very brave young lady (social worker in the States) visited Romania and fell in love with helping the children. She opened an orphanage and three years later convinced the government to donate a piece of property to construct a home for unwed mothers. Her heart felt compelled to stop women from leaving their children by giving them a home. In this safe environment, each woman could be taught a trade (sewing), earn money and eventually learn to provide for their children. We were very fortunate to be apart of building Agape Home.
Here is a photo of a nearby gypsy village. Most homes pictured are built with clay & mud. Some homes have roofs made from scraps of plastic and cardboard.
Here is Agape Home. 
Believe it or not, here I am holding the wall while it is being secured.
Here is Agape Home completed in just 8 days! We were careful not to overbuild for the neighborhood, after all, it sits in the middle of a cornfield and just outside a gypsy village. 2400 SF. I know all of you stagers, would love to get your hands of this one!!
Here are the little gypsy children playing nearby. Their clothes torn and tattered. Children under five are sent out to play without clothes so if they need to go to the bathroom they just squat and go. The entire time we were there, the children were always playing and having fun. On the day we left, we gave them clothing and sweet treats.
Here in the States we have beautiful homes, wonderful jobs (as Stagers, of course!) and freedom to come and go as we please. Let us not forget the price that was paid for those liberties. Let us not forget those who sacrifice everyday so that we can call America "Home". Most of all, let us not forget just how blessed we are! God Bless America...indeed!!!!!!!!!
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